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A Banner Day At Rufus Woods!!!

3 of us set out from Bridgeport first thing in the morning. It was nice to be the first boat up the reservoir as the very first bit of morning light was starting to filter into the canyons. When we got to the net pens there were no other boats there until around 8 am or so....by that time we had caught 28 fish and the biggest was a fat one, a few ounces over 11 pounds.

The fish were still there and we were using the usual fish pellet flies, tied in a dark brown color pattern with just a tiny bit of the hook visible. This is probably the most important part of using these flies effectively as the fish are very smart from having seen many many different baits, hooks and lines in front of them. I leave just maybe a quarter to eighth inch of the hook bare. Any more of the hook exposed than that and it can make the difference of not getting even close to the number of fish that you could, (some of the first pellet flies I tied I had left more hook exposed and didn't get the results we get now). Other nice things about using this fly is that the fish do not get hooked deep, its very easy to take the hook out of the fishes lip because its barbless and you don't have to use up fishing time always rebaiting, just take the fish off and cast out again!!

There were a few stretches of time where it was taking me 3 - 5 seconds to get a fish to hit my fly. A few times I put the fly in the water and before I could even get set there was a fish on!! It was simply fabulous fishing!!

Another thing is to keep your line on the light side, we were using 3 and 4 lb. line and only broke off two fish in a 200 plus day of fishing. When your catching that many fish, breaking off a nice one is not really that big of a deal. One of my fishing buddies was using 8 lb. line and wasn't getting much at all till he sized down.

We left with 6 fish for the 3 of us and the smallest was 7lbs., 3 oz., a very nice day! There was a moon out at night but the clouds kept it pretty much hidden so that may be why it was better this weekend than last when the moon was very bright.

P-FITZ98

9/23/2008 11:39:00 AM

Thats cool.I tied some pellet flies out of spun deer hair a few years ago, but we were doing so good on what we usually use there, ive never tried them.Will be heading there soon, so I will bring some floating line and give it a try.

Sackett

9/23/2008 6:13:00 PM

Chris, any chance you would mind sharing how you tie the pellet fly. I understand what it is supposed to look like, just curious what materials other than deer hair like Fitz described.
Thanks,

outdoor chris

9/24/2008 6:57:00 AM

deer hair doesn't work as it floats. I am using floating line because I have to use a light tippet, sinking line has too much drag in the water when fighting these big fish. The deeper fish are only about 10 feet down but a sinking fly is what you need. on a size 12 nymph hook, wrap with dark brown thread first, then wrap 3/4 of the shaft of the hook with a light lead wire. Wrap a double wrap of dark brown chenile to the turn of the hook and then a single wrap to within a quarter inch of the point of the hook. then finish by wrapping with tread and tie off at the eye of the hook with a few whip finishes, glue and get ready to hang on!!

Sackett

9/24/2008 12:34:00 PM

Great, thanks Chris.

P-FITZ98

9/24/2008 1:53:00 PM

Thanks Chris,will tie some up and try it.All ive ever used there is sinking line and big, heavy flies.The 10+ pounders we usally get are on the bottom.

saspinwall

9/27/2008 9:30:00 PM

Hi Chris; It's been years since I fished Rufus Woods. Are you fishing near the upper most fish pens that the Colvilles control. Besides the upper most 2 pens, are there other pens on the Reservoir? Do you motor from Bridgeport because your boat is moored there? I wonder because there is a gravel launch near the upper net pens. Thanks for the information.

outdoor chris

9/29/2008 2:24:00 AM

coming from Chelan, we would have to drive around the dam to get to the launch, that actually takes longer than if we just boat up....(about a 50 min run up the river) and the main reason we do it is because we like the scenery, watching deer, beer, waterfowl, and I like to drive the boat anyday....... instead of driving a truck, if I had a choice in the matter!!
But thanks a ton for the info, can never share enough!!

FISHSLAYER50

9/30/2008 1:39:00 PM

Any chance of some pictures of you flies? I am going up to camp there sunday night and was going to fish for 2 days...It would be a treat to see what you are catching these on. brendansmith5050@yahoo.com

Thanks Brendan

warlo_527

10/1/2008 4:24:00 PM

Hi Chris,
I don't flyfish..but is there a fly that I could purchase from a store that looks similiar to your setup and throw it onto a spinning reel? Thanks!

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